Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday instructed Israeli forces to act with great force and immediately against the phenomenon of balloon, kite, and drone launches from the Gaza Strip toward communities in the western Negev and the Gaza border area. The minister’s directive comes amid attempts by terror organizations in the Strip to renew aerial terror, with the security establishment viewing every such launch as an attempt to test the alertness of forces on the ground and harm the security of residents.
Under the new directives, the defense minister ordered all necessary measures to be taken to eliminate the threat. The measures include targeted strikes on Hamas leaders and the terrorists responsible for the launches, evacuation of neighborhoods and areas in the Strip from which the launches are carried out, and decisive offensive action against terror infrastructure on site. The defense minister made clear that Israel will not tolerate any harm to the continuity of life for residents of the south.
“We view every launch as a military action in every respect and are committed to absolute protection of the communities,” Katz emphasized, adding that a balloon is treated like a kite, and a kite is treated like a drone—with explosives or without. The minister concluded with an unequivocal clarification that Israeli forces will not allow a return to the reality that preceded October 7, and anyone who organizes, launches, or enables the launches will be dealt with immediately and with full severity.